Simon Newstead

St Leonards potter hits back-to-back century breaks in frames three and four

Davis to face world no.2 Robertson in last 16 tomorrow afternoon

Mark Davis produced a tremendous performance to win his opening match in the latest World Snooker tournament this afternoon (Tuesday).

The St Leonards cueman compiled a pair of century breaks in successive frames en route to a 4-1 victory over Marco Fu in round one of the 888.com World Grand Prix.

World number 19 Davis reached the quarter-finals of the Indian Open at the end of last week, but showed no signs of jetlag as he won the final four frames against 10th-ranked Fu in Llandudnow, Wales.

Hong Kong potter Fu took the opener with a break of 74. Davis made a 52 early in the second and although Fu hit back with a 60, Davis won it on the black to level the match.

The local man then took command with a break of 102 in frame three and a 109 in the fourth for a 3-1 advantage. There were no big breaks in the next, but Davis did enough to seal an impressive victory.

The 42-year-old’s reward is a second round meeting with world number two Neil Robertson in a match scheduled to take place tomorrow afternoon. Australian star Robertson saw off Belgian young gun Luca Brecel 4-0 in round one.

Televised on ITV4, the 888.com World Grand Prix is a new tournament on the circuit this season in which 32 of the sport’s leading players are battling for the £100,000 top prize. The event runs from March 16-22 at Venue Cymru on the North Wales coast.

World champion Mark Selby, Stephen Maguire, Stuart Bingham and Ronnie O’Sullivan are among the other players already through to the last 16, but Masters champion Shaun Murphy, Barry Hawkins and Mark Allen have gone out.